Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children, some as young as toddlers, may now have to face U.S. immigration courts completely alone. This crisis follows funding cuts by the Trump administration that stripped legal representation services from organizations helping these vulnerable children. The Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project (GHIRP), which provides legal aid to children, was forced to halt services after receiving a stop-work order from the Department of the Interior. Although the order was briefly lifted, it was later followed by the cancellation of all funding for direct legal representation. As a result, GHIRP and similar nonprofits across the U.S. have been…
The United Nations has issued a serious warning to Tunisia, raising alarm over increasing racist rhetoric, forced evictions, and mass deportations of Sub-Saharan African migrants and refugees. According to a letter obtained by Al-Quds Al-Arabi, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination strongly condemned the North African country’s recent treatment of migrants. The letter, signed by Committee Chair Michael Balcerzak and addressed to Tunisia’s UN Representative in Geneva, Sabri Bachtobji, highlights rising hate speech in media and on social platforms. It also criticizes Tunisian politicians, including members of parliament, for spreading harmful claims—such as the idea that African…
On May 21, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi accused part of the judiciary of being influenced by ideology in their handling of migration-related cases. His statement came as the Constitutional Court began reviewing his 2023 decree that imposed tough restrictions on NGOs involved in sea rescues. According to Piantedosi, some court opinions seemed biased and not based on rational thinking. He said such decisions weaken the credibility of the judiciary. “Some of their opinions had a clear ideological flavor and were debunked by rational considerations,” he said. “This is not beneficial for the credibility of the institution.” The minister also…
China’s nearly 300 million migrant workers are facing new challenges as the workforce ages and the job market shifts toward more skill-based and service-oriented roles, a new government report shows. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the average age of migrant workers in 2024 rose slightly to 43.2 years, with 31.6 percent now over 50 years old. This steady increase highlights the need for targeted skills training to keep up with evolving job demands. Experts attribute the aging workforce to several factors, including longer schooling for rural youth, which delays their entry into the labor market, and the growing…
A new European Union-funded migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesvos is causing serious concern among locals and environmental experts who warn that it could lead to devastating wildfires. The Vastria pine forest, where the new facility is being built, is the last major forested area on the island and highly flammable. Now, with nearly 24 hectares already cleared to make space for prefabricated buildings, many fear the project poses a grave threat to both the environment and public safety. The new camp, known as the Closed Controlled Access Center, is designed to hold around 5,000 asylum seekers and…
More than 280 Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia are seeking justice and compensation after being left unpaid for up to eight months by their former employer, Kawaguchi Manufacturing. The company, which produced plastic parts for major Japanese companies like Sony, Panasonic, and Daikin, abruptly shut down late last year, leaving workers stranded and in deep debt. The factory, located in Port Klang—Malaysia’s busiest port city—reportedly owed the workers over 3 million ringgit (around $694,000), but they have so far received only about $58,000. Many of the affected workers borrowed large sums, up to $5,000 each, to secure their jobs through…
Greek authorities, in cooperation with European police forces, have successfully dismantled a major migrant smuggling network that was operating across several European countries. The breakthrough operation, which took place on Thursday, targeted a criminal organization based primarily in Greece and has led to a major blow to illegal migration and human trafficking networks in the region. According to Greek officials, 12 individuals were arrested, including the suspected leader of the group, who is believed to have coordinated the smuggling of hundreds of migrants into Europe through unlawful routes. The network had been under investigation for some time and was found…
The UK has seen a dramatic fall in net migration, with figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimating 431,000 more people entered than left the country in the year ending December 2024. This marks a nearly 50% decrease compared to the 860,000 recorded the previous year. This sharp decline comes amid major policy changes introduced by the previous Conservative government, including higher salary thresholds for work visas and new limits on bringing dependents. These restrictions were later followed by similar pledges from the current Labour government, which promised to cut immigration as part of its election campaign.…
Spain is moving forward with a plan that could give legal papers to around 500,000 migrants who arrived before 31 December 2024. The government is now talking with political groups in parliament to create a new rule that would offer these migrants the chance to get residence and work permits. The goal is to fix the problems in the current immigration system and help migrants who are still living without documents. This new plan is also expected to help Spain’s tourism and hospitality industry. With more legal workers, hotels, restaurants, and travel services could hire more people legally and with…
Indonesia’s Migrant Workers Protection Minister, Abdul Kadir Karding, has warned future interns and workers planning to go to Japan not to fall into “cheap labour” traps. He stressed that some internships in Japan may end up as unpaid jobs for long periods, even though these interns are doing full-time work. “Internships and jobs must have a clear time limit. Don’t let your internship become long-term work without proper pay,” he said on May 16, as reported by local media. Karding added that the internship visa is valid for only three years, and workers must stick to that timeline. The minister…